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Rittermeister

(170 posts)
2. Much of this is mythology
Fri May 4, 2012, 02:53 PM
May 2012

The AR design, due to its tight tolerances (tight tolerances equal better accuracy) and direct gas impingement system, is more prone to fouling and subsequent malfunctions than many other weapons, notably the AK. But if regularly cleaned, it's not that big a deal. A lot of the trouble in Vietnam was due to the Army's belief that it was a "self-cleaning" weapon, and the lack of issued cleaning kits. Lack of training among draftee troops might be another source. But Stoner's basic design is quite sound. ARs require more cleaning than an AK, but they're also more accurate, lighter, and easier to shoot well. When you replace the direct impingement system with a gas piston, which is probably the next step for the US military (HK416), many of the problems go away.

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